On their 800ha property “Bonaview”, near Koorawatha, Brett and Jane Fisher used to shear up to 5000 Merino wethers.
The property has been in the Fisher family for over 100 years, running Merino sheep as the major enterprise.
Six years ago, while looking at directions in the wool market and facing labour difficulties, the couple were prompted to re-evaluate their operation.
They made the decision to sell their wethers and change over to Dorper ewes.
“I wasn’t confident in the future of wool and we were having trouble getting shearers, so I bought some Dorper ewes to replace the wethers,” Mr Fisher said.
With 1800 Dorper ewes purchased it was a successful transition, reducing the workload for Mr Fisher.
“We don’t have to treat the sheep for flies, and not having to shear or crutch the ewes or lambs has made my management easier,” he said.
Mr Fisher was getting good returns from the Dorper lambs, but he began to consider they weren’t getting the values associated with the traditional run of prime lambs offered in the market.
“I introduced Australian Whites because they are a naturally shedding sheep, which fitted in with my new management, and because their lambs have a similar confirmation to the traditional prime lamb,” he said.
Mr Fisher sells his lambs through the Forbes saleyards, or on an ‘over-the-hooks’ basis at local Cootamundra or Junee processors and is getting a good return from the Australian White-cross lambs, allowing for lack of skin value.
“I am taking the lambs through to trade weights of 20 to 24kg dressed at five months,” he said.
“They are a very acceptable type for the local trade and I am not having any trouble selling them as long as they are in good condition and meet market requirements.”
Mr Fisher has been sourcing his replacement Australian White rams from the Ardess stud bred by Robert and Toni Gilmour at Oberon.
In association with Robert Gilmour, Mr Fisher is selecting rams for their excellent carcass qualities and correct structure.
“I am very happy with the type of lamb being bred and they suit my operation,” Mr Fisher said.
The Australian White cross lambs bred by Mr Fisher are supplementary fed if necessary to reach his target weights, but he admitted to having a ‘fairly conservative stocking rate’, which ensures his stock are kept in good order.
“We will feed grain if we have to have to, but we generally have enough pasture along with oats and barley grown for grazing as well as grain,” he said.
The high fertility of his flock based on the Dorper ewes allows Mr Fisher to have four lambings each year, in March, May, August and November.
“We have three mobs, and those ewes which lamb in March lamb again in November. The ewes that lamb in August will then lamb in May the following year,” he said.
“This spreads our market risk, and makes better use of our rams.”
Mr Fisher is slowly building his Australian White numbers.
“As we retain our young ewes, the first cross over the Dorper ewes are fulfilling our expectations,” he said.